OGA ED Mark Felder

FROM THE OGA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Davis, Hughett, Gooch in OGA spotlight

During a two-week stretch, Ian Davis and Mike Hughett put some emphatic exclamation points on two of our top events.

Hughett made a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to win the OGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Hillcrest Country Club in Bartlesville, one of our favorite courses in the state and run superbly by professional John Hron and his staff.

It was the 24th OGA victory for the timeless wonder and he dedicated the victory to his son, Matt, who died earlier this year of brain cancer.

Hughett, Harley Abrams and Austin Schmidt each shot 5-under for the 36 holes, excellent playing on a course that was set up to test the state’s best.

The next week the OGA held its State Amateur Championship at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, another excellent venue in superb condition run by decorated professional Tim Fleming and his staff.

After six rounds in scorching heat, we were delighted to welcome Davis, the 2010 OGA Junior champion, back to the winner’s circle. Ian played professionally from the time he left Oklahoma State in 2014 until 2020 and regained his amateur status last November. He outlasted Jacob Prentice of Edmond 1-up in a well-played final, but both golfers showed their best stuff in reaching the final.

Speaking of junior golf, we were very grateful to receive a $10,000 donation from the Talor Gooch Foundation to help sponsor the fall series on the Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour. The $10,000 will add $1,000 to elevate each of the seven fall

events and $3,000 toward the seasonending Red River Classic at Dornick Hills against top players from north Texas. The foundation raised over $300,000 at a pro-am at Tulsa Country Club the Monday after the PGA Championship to kick off fundraising and has already donated to several great charities in the Oklahoma City area. We thank Talor for this. Gooch, foundation director Kelsey Cline and OJGT director Morri Rose were among the honored guests as John Conrad reopened in late July in Midwest City. We’re looking forward to seeIan Davis Mike Hughett Talor Gooch ing the improvements there during the OJGT John Conrad Labor Day Challenge. The Oklahoma Open is scheduled Aug. 25-27 on the East Course at Oak Tree Country Club and as usual should be a great mix of top young professionals and amateurs putting on a great display. The defending champion is Zach James, who won by two shots last year over Sam Stevens.